The end of the year is upon us and what an eventful year it has been. It is often said, "time flies when you're having fun" well this year definitely flew past, in a blink of an eye and it is December again, can you believe it?

The Harfield-Village Online team would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their support throughout the year. It is much appreciated. Thank you to all our local businesses who donated generous prizes for our competitions, thank you to our article contributors for all your informative articles and of course thank you goes to our readers for their continuous support and feedback. Last but not least, a special thank you to our sponsor Norgarb Propertiesfor all the support and encouragement.

Please support these businesses who supported us abundantly throughout the year.

To find out more about our learned article contributors and the small business owners who share advice and helpful tips, click on the links below. All of their articles are also available on our Blog.

BEST WISHES, FROM LEW NORGARB

As we approach the end of 2018, I would like to pass on my thanks and gratitude to the following people:

Firstly, to our 6,000+ readers. Without you, there would be no newsletter! Thank you for your interest, participation and feedback. It is most welcomed and appreciated.

To our article contributors. You have all been great and we really appreciate your inspiring and newsworthy articles. We value your collective and respective wisdom sharing.

Local businesses, you guys are awesome! We are all about keeping it Local, so thank you for all the valuable prizes and special offers. We hope your businesses thrive and prosper.

A special and heartfelt thanks to the HVA, (Harfield Village Association), FOHP (Friends Of Harfield Parks) and HVCID (Harfield Village CID). You play a pivotal role in making Harfield Village safer, more organised, greener and prettier and a welcoming place that we residents are proud to call home. We know you do it out of your own love and passion for the area and mostly without financial compensation. On behalf of the entire business and residential community we thank you and your teams for your dedicated effort and hard work throughout the year.

To Symantha, our producer of our monthly newsletter. Sym, your tenacity in being able to keep up with the last minute changes and tight deadlines has always been admirable. On behalf of all our readers and Norgarb Properties, we sincerely thank you and are grateful for your immense efforts to bring us this mailer every month.

From the Norgarb team we would like to wish all our loyal customers and our readers a safe, relaxing, joyous and peaceful holiday. We look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL TO KEEP OUR FURRY FRIENDS SAFE, WARM AND FED

Your gift of R350 will keep a precious dog or a cat safe, warm and fed during their hospital stay at ARO this Christmas and New Year.

More than 50 child carers attended the safety-awareness training workshop in Surrey Park at the end of November. The workshop formed part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women & Children Campaign, hosted by HV CID & SAPS Claremont. See the full article here.

CLOSING TIMES

Closing: Friday, 21 December 2018 at 12 noon.

Opening: Thursday, 3rd January 2019.

STBB wishes everyone a peaceful yet Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

HOLIDAY EATING MYTHS

Kim Hoffmandebunk some of the common holiday myths as it is possible to survive the Christmas season without gaining weight.

Don’t feel that December will ruin your hard work this year with too many parties, dinners and family gatherings. See the full article here.

GARDENING IN THE PARKS

Getting involved in maintaining and enhancing our local parks is an excellent way of getting involved in the community.

If you’d like to be involved in planting or weeding parts of the parks, please get in contact with harfield.parks@gmail.com. The FOHP may well be attempting a small scientific project next year.

The move toward the festive season is always a busy one. People are packing, making holiday plans, doing last-minute shopping and attending endless year-end functions.

We have all endured a long and tough year and it is only natural to want to relax and 'drop your guard'. Unfortunately, this is exactly what opportunistic criminals are depending on. HVCID shares with us a sheet of tips on valuable do's and don’t, see it here.

FESTIVE RECIPES

Lyn Staples, the Norgarb Properties Agent with the winning recipe has provided many delicious festive recipes over the past years and we’ve decided to highlight them all this year.

So if you are looking for quick and easy festive dishes that will leave a lasting impression on your guests, have a look at these.

Click to read all previous DIY tips and articles by Andre, Norgarb Properties Agent in the know.

HOW YOUR HOME CAN MAKE YOU WEALTHY

One often hears about home ownership being the key to personal wealth creation, especially from those selling property to first-time buyers. The details, however of just how that works, are often very unclear.

The two sides of the festive period: peace and goodwill versus Frantic Friday when anything but peace prevails! What can neuroscience tell us about compulsive shopping in the festive period and the January sales? Dr Samantha Brooks explains more. Read full article here.

Rental scams are on the rise. Both tenants and private landlords are potentially more at risk of being scammed. Here are some useful tips, “Red flags” to watch out for. LettingWorx explains more. See full article here.

NEW LOOK, SAME GREAT TASTE

The Village Bicycle, previously known as Da Vinci's on 2nd, is under the same management as the last 4 years, namely Duane Weiss as Owner and Jeriah Fredericks as Manager.

Duane thanks all customers for the support in what's been a hectic few weeks of rebranding. The team promises to continue to do the best for positive change and support and are more motivated than ever before.

They will also be starting their own delivery service in mid January, but you can order online via OrderIn and UberEats or make a booking online.

They have maintained the menu and ambition for quality in food and service and aim to push further. Prices remain the same as before, only certain menu item names have changed. Duane says, as a local resident, he and his team wouldn't want to be anywhere else than the great Harfield Village community.

This is a comprehensive 13 week Course, once a week for 2 hours,which begins with a Discussion on “How to go Shopping Successfully for your Project.” This foundation will guarantee that, while following the plan, you will make clothing that fits you perfectly & flatters your body shape.

If you buy a sewing machine in addition to the Dressmaking Course you will get a free "thread up" lesson learning on how to use it. Fine Feathers Sewing School stocks quality tools & you can buy a selection of such, but if you buy a full Basic Kit of useful Tools you receive a 10% discount.

Alternatively buy a Soft Furnishing Course of 8 lessons of ~ Once a week for 2 hours, for R1500 & a Sewing Machine & receive a free sewing machine lesson as well as a 10% discount on a full kit of Tools.

Any of the above-mentioned Courses can be attended twice a week should you have the time as classes are offered on demand.

Promotion on Sewing Courses are to be paid in the 1st week in January 2019.

As Norgarb Properties continues to grow from strength to strength clearly we are doing something right! So thank you individually and collectively and here's to a relaxing Christmas holiday and a bumper 2019.

16 December - Day of Reconciliation
17 December - Public Holiday Observed
24 December - Christmas Eve
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Day of Goodwill
1 January 2019 - New Years Day
9 January - School Term 1 2019 Starts

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